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The eye-catching bike fuses the most exciting tech trends, like hydraulic disc brakes and clearance for wide tires, with a frame that is not only stiff enough for Peter Sagan but also takes the sting out of Paris-Roubaix&rsquo;s cobbles&mdash;or the cracked pavement on your favorite loops. Plus, the Synapse&rsquo;s angles put you in a position that&rsquo;s efficient, but still comfortable, for many miles.<br />
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<strong>Bonus Tech</strong><br />
The top-of-the-line, ($9,750) Hi-Mod version of the Synapse will include a 25mm headset spacer with an integrated two-watt LED light (not shown). Cannondale will also sell the clever light as an aftermarket accessory.

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As on many bikes with disc brakes, the Synapse&rsquo;s rear brake hose is routed through the down tube and chainstay. But the <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/bikes-and-gear-features/trendsetter-... is the first bike we&rsquo;ve seen with an internally routed front brake line. The hose enters the fork crown and passes through the left fork leg before popping out just above the caliper.

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Cannondale wanted a frame that is stiff enough for racing and can withstand the forces created by disc brakes while still delivering a <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/maintenance/repair-maintenance/yourtires-air">s... ride</a>. To increase comfort, the company tweaked the Synapse&rsquo;s rear triangle. Previous versions had seatstays and chainstays that were shaped like an hourglass with a flat midsection to dull the jarring impacts of big bumps. On the new bike, engineers also twisted those tubes, which they say improves damping on smaller bumps. The company calls the new design Save Plus.

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The Synapse&rsquo;s skinny 25.4mm carbon seatpost flexes more than larger sizes, allowing it to absorb vibrations coming though the frame. The bike also uses a cleanly integrated clamp to secure the post.

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Like the rest of the Synapse, the fork is designed to smooth the road and withstand <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/video/shimano-ultegra-r785-hydraulic-disc-brake... forces</a>. The fork legs are wide and flatter in the middle, which helps to absorb road vibrations. The dropouts are angled toward the back of the bike, so that when you slow, the axle pulls tighter against the dropouts, reducing strain on the quick-release and minimizing the chances of your wheel coming loose.

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One of the Synapse&rsquo;s most distinctive features is a carbon arch, called the PowerPyramid, that joins the seat tube and bottom bracket. Instead of having a round tube connect directly to the bottom bracket, Cannondale flattened the seat tube and removed material from the center near the bottom. The company claims the &shy;wishbone-shaped junction can absorb vibrations from the rear dropouts while remaining rigid when you <a href="http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/riding-wind... on the pedals</a>.